"This prestigious award has been given out annually at the Independence Bowl after the Sports Foundation directors decided to recognize an outstanding American citizen with the “Spirit of Independence Award.”

The first recipient honored in 1977 was General Omar N. Bradley, the only living five-star general in the United States at that time. The following year, and until his death, General Bradley presented the “Spirit of Independence Award” to his fellow recipients. After his death, the General’s name was added to the award.

Since the award’s inception, this honor has been bestowed upon outstanding American citizens, or organizations, which symbolize the spirit of freedom and independence on which our country was founded.

The Wounded Warrior Project began when several veterans and friends, moved by stories of the first wounded service members returning home from Afghanistan and Iraq, took action to help others in need.

What started as a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members has grown into a complete rehabilitative effort to assist them as they recover and transition back to civilian life.

Tens of thousands of Wounded Warriors and family members receive support each year through 18 WWP programs designed to nurture the mind and body, and encourage economic empowerment and engagement.

Wounded Warrior Project will be honored at halftime of this year’s AdvoCare V100 Independence Bowl through the presentation of the “Spirit of Independence Award.”

The mission of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

WWP is a national, nonpartisan organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get involved and learn more, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.